Oh Carol

The Musicasters

Oh Carol

Musicasters 9135

 

1965

Flip is a version of "Talk To Me" (Little Willie John, King Records, 1958)

 

Band formed by Benton Harbor high school students (and members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 232), the Musicasters have appeared in Chicago, Grand Haven, Three Rivers and the Twin Cities in the years 1963-1965.

In the summer of 1963, they were opposed to The Playmates (*)  in a Battle of the Bands, hosted by Jan Gabriel, motor sports announcer known for his signature phrase "Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!" used to promote the US 30 Drag Strip events in Northwest Indiana.  Jan Gabriel did much more for Chicago area media than just promote weekend races on commercials.  In the early 60's, he was a night time rock & roll DJ for WJOB in Hammond -- a "screamer" much like Dick Biondi. He would emcee and DJ dances around the northwestern IN and Chicago's south suburbs.

(*)  The Playmates : South Bend band changed their name to the Rivieras, after the then-popular Buick car, broke through music's top 10 charts with the song "California Sun," released in 1963.

The Goatee's Gotta Go

Dick Summer

Bill Coe and the Escorts

The Goatee's Gotta Go

(Coe-Simon-Summer)

K-W Records #502

1959

Spoken word. 

Dick Summer was dee jay at WIBC at the time. Then, he was the MC of a Bandstand-type program called "Rhythm Carnival" on WISH-TV. until he was hired by WBZ Radio in Boston.  His radio show was unpredictable. He read poetry and short stories, and sometimes he played old radio dramas - listeners loved it.

The background music is provided by Bill Coe and The Escorts.  Bill Coe is believed to be the brother of musician Jimmy Coe.

WIBC radio booth on the roof of Merrill's

Merrill’s Hi-Decker was another popular spot for both locals and visitors, featuring a $1.59 steak special that could be enjoyed in the restaurant’s “Two Beautiful Dining Rooms” or in the customer’s own car. Younger patrons preferred the latter option so they could listen to disc jockey Dick Summer playing the newest rock-and-roll hits from the WIBC radio booth on the restaurant’s roof. His show featured a “make it or break it game” where he would ask patrons to honk their car horns to vote on whether a new record should be played again or broken in half.

from http://historicindianapolis.com/indianapolis-collected-the-accidental-tourist-guide-collector/

 

Read Dick Summer interview http://www.grubstreet.ca/articles/index/495/the-grub-street-interview-dick-summer-mouth-to-ear

Hall Of Shame

Jean Dixon

Hall Of Shame

Gwen McEwen

H. Graves Music Co. BMI

Fonovox 102

1447 Union, Memphis Tenn.

1959

Short-lived label operated by Elston Leonard and Hillburn (Pappy) Graves. 

Elston Leonard was the founder of Fotovox Inc., a TV and commercial film producing firm, in 1951 at 1447 Union.

 

Hillburn Graves (1913-1973), was a saxophonist and clarinet player from Arkansas.  He toured extensively from more than two decades with the "Pappy Graves Show"

Gwen McEwen was best  known as a comedienne. She traveled for many years with Pappy Graves ("Pappy Graves Music and dancing Revue, featuring riotously funny Gwen McEwen, That inimitable "Phyllis Diller" Gal ! ")  She never made a career for herself in music, although she recorded few demos at Sun Records ("Steady Freddie" and "We"ll Have A Ball" were issued by Bear Family in 2002).   She wrote both sides of the Smokey Joe 45 on Fonovox, the only other known release on the label.

 

Jean Dixon is perhaps the former band singer who was associated in Dallas with the Hugh Fowler Agency in 1958-59 (Billboard, 31 August 1959). No further info.

 

Greg Constantine (cover art)

The Coming King

Mark Custom Recording Division MC1247

From the back cover:

The reproduction of the TV image painting on the front cover is by Greg Constantine of the Andrews University Art Faculty.  The title is : "Every Eye Shall See Him"  and is photographed from the original acrylic on canvas of 66 by 88 inches.  Professor Constantine is primarily interested in seeing as "we humans see", and has investigated other ways of portraying this, hence the TV images concept of this painting.

Another conceptual "official" artist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Constantine

Picture is from this ebay listing

survey solutions

I Can Give You Love

Bobbi Martin 

I Can Give You Love

Bobbi Martin, Champion Music Corp. BMI

Arranged and directed by Bert De Coteaux

Produced by Henry Jerome

Coral 62485

Recorded on 13 December 1965 Decca Recording Studio, Pythian Temple, 135 West 70th St., New York City 

Barbara Anne Martin was born in Brooklyn on 29 November 1943, but raised in Baltimore. After graduation from high school in Baltimore, she set her sights for New York and a full-time try at a show business career.   She came to the attention of personal manager Miriam Love.  Miriam groomed her young protégée first for night clubs and TV.  Her debut recordings were produced by T.H. McCulloh and issued in 1960, for the much obscure Maypole Records (#502 : (Ay Ay Ay) I'll Wait Forever / Is It True (What They Say About Al)?).  The single was also released by Reo Records in Canada. 

Seen and heard by Coral Records' A&R executive, Henry Jerome, Bobbi Martin was signed to an exclusive, long-term Coral recording contract.  She placed two songs in the Top 40, 'Don't Forget U Still Love You (1965) and 'For The Love Of Him' (1970).


She died at Brighton Wood Knull medical facility in Baltimore (lung cancer) in May 2000.

Bobbi Martin discography